Employee Spotlight – Victoria Lampado, LMSW

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to shine our employee spotlight on Victoria Lampado, LMSW. Victoria is a member of our Social Work Department who has been working at Jamaica Hospital for over three years. She is a native New Yorker, having grown up in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn and now residing in Kew Gardens, Queens. Victoria is a graduate of Bishop Ford High School, Brooklyn College and Columbia University where she obtained her Masters in Social Work.
Victoria was influenced by her Italian and Russian heritage which gave her a deep appreciation of the fine arts, Broadway theater and music. She grew up listening to Italian operas, and popular singers like Frank Sinatra, Doris Day and Judy Garland thanks to the influence of her father who shared his love of everything Italian with his family. In her free time, Victoria enjoys cooking, especially Italian food, crocheting, and spending time with her family and friends. She is very proud of her late father who was a World War II veteran who instilled in her a sense of compassion and caring for those who are less fortunate. She also has a rescue dog, a Shitzu named Goldie, who she has given a good home to.
Before coming to Jamaica Hospital Victoria worked as a social worker in a wide range of professional settings. There are several reasons why she gives for enjoying working at Jamaica Hospital more than anyplace she has worked previously. She enjoys the international diversity of both the patients we treat, and the people who work here. Victoria feels that though there are challenges with the population we work with, the entire team comes together to meet them and find ways to accomplish their goals. Every patient is treated with respect and dignity and the number one goal is to always do the right thing for the patient. “Jamaica Hospital has great energy and great people who care about our patients” she states. She also pointed out that prior to coming to work at Jamaica Hospital, she herself had been a patient at the hospital on two occasions and she was very impressed with the excellent level of care she received.
Victoria hopes that the work she is doing will have a positive impact on people’s lives and we think she is already well on her way to accomplishing that goal.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Pool Safety

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

The weather is warming up and people will be looking for ways to keep cool. One way that has always been popular during the warm summer months is swimming in a pool. Every year there are countless accidents and also fatalities at or near swimming pools. Many of which could have been avoided had precautions been taken.
Safety Tips to follow:
• Never leave children unattended near a pool
• Only swim when there is a lifeguard present
• Every pool should have proper drain covers
• Pools should have alarms and proper fencing
• Keep the pool clean
• There should be no diving allowed in pools that are shallow
• Never swim alone
• There should be no horseplay in or near a pool
• Do not swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Do not swim in a thunderstorm
• It is a good idea to give children swimming lessons before the start of the summer
• Children who don’t know how to swim should be given flotation devices to wear
There are many organizations around the country that offer swimming lessons for children and adults of all ages. If you don’t know how to swim, look into getting some lessons before heading out to the pool. You will have a good time and you will also be a lot safer this summer.

June is Cataract Awareness Month

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has designated June as Cataract Awareness Month. The purpose of this designation is to help educate the public on what cataracts are and how to treat them once they are diagnosed.
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye. This will result in blurry vision, and since less light is being transmitted, objects will appear darker as well.
It is estimated that 25 million people in the United States age 40 and older will be diagnosed with a cataract, and by the time people reach the age of 80, more than half of the population of the United States will be affected with the disease.
Risk factors for developing cataracts include:
• Age
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Hereditary factors
• Prior eye injuries
Cataracts are classified by what causes them. Age is the biggest factor, followed by eye trauma, congenital causes and secondary to taking certain medications like steroids.
There are a few ways to lower the risk of developing cataracts, but they may not be completely successful.
Wearing sunglasses when outdoors
A diet rich in vitamin C foods
Avoiding smoking
Treatment for cataracts involves a surgical procedure which removes the old lens of the eye and replacing it with a synthetic one. It is a very common procedure and considered relatively safe. If you would like to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-5900.

Employee Spotlight – Yolanda Torres Jacobs

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

This month we shine our employee spotlight on Security Officer Yolanda Torres Jacobs.
Yolanda is a true New Yorker who finds the city a great place to live. She grew up in Bedford Stuyvesant Brooklyn and attended Grover Cleveland High School. Her home now is in Queens Village which is both convenient to travel to work and also close enough to many of her family members. She grew up in a very loving family, with two brothers , a sister and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Yolanda has been working in the security field for 25 years. She has been at Jamaica Hospital since 2014 and prior to that she worked in security at JFK and LaGuardia Airports. She also has several years of experience working in customer relations positions which taught her many lessons that she uses when dealing with the public. Yolanda enjoys her job and finds it rewarding being able to interact with our patients, visitors and staff. She brings a positive approach to her job and does her best to make sure that everyone she encounters has a pleasant experience.
Yolanda grew up with many kinds of pets. She has had dogs, birds and even snakes. She and her husband have a beautiful aquarium in their home and she finds it very relaxing to watch the fish.
In her free time, Yolanda enjoys spending time with her family. Whenever she gets a chance she enjoys traveling with her husband to places near and far. She also enjoys cooking, eating in all kinds of restaurants, bike riding, going to the movies, dancing, and spending time with her family who she adores.
Yolanda credits her family with giving her an outgoing personality and the enjoyment she gets from interacting with people in a positive way each and every day.

Intermittent Fasting – Is It Safe ?

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

People who are trying to lose weight will try almost anything if they think it will help them. One method that has been around for centuries, but now is becoming very popular, is intermittent fasting, the voluntary forgoing of food for a set amount of time each day in the hopes of losing excess weight. The question that comes to mind is, is it safe?
One of the effects on the body of intermittent fasting is believed to be an increase in the sensitivity to insulin. When this occurs, the body tends to have better control of glucose levels and will be less likely to build up fat. Prolonged intermittent fasting however can have detrimental side effects on the storage of glucose in the cells, releasing byproducts of this breakdown into the circulatory system at dangerous levels.
If a person decides to try intermittent fasting as a short term method of losing weight, another thing to be careful of is overeating at the end of each day’s fast. This can overload the body’s ability to digest this food properly and cause stomach pains. Short term intermittent fasting is generally safe for people who are in good health.
Most types of fasting is not recommended for the following people:
• Pregnant women
• People with diabetes
• Anyone who is underweight already
• Women who are breastfeeding
• Children under 18 years of age
• Anyone who is elderly shouldn’t fast
Some of the risks of going on a long term intermittent fasting diet are that since you are consuming less nutrients, the metabolism slows down. Once you start eating again, the body may actually gain more weight than you originally lost. The body requires vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in order to function properly. When these are absent from the diet, a person can experience headaches, fatigue, dehydration, and dizziness. It is also possible to see loss of muscle mass if a person fasts for too long a period of time. In severe cases it can be life threatening.
Whether you are considering intermittent fasting or any other form of weight loss program, always consult with a physician first to see if it is safe for you. To schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital please call 718-206-7001.

May is Healthy Vision Month

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 90 million Americans over the age of 40 have eye problems. That is about 60 percent of the population. May has been designated as Healthy Vision Month to bring attention to our eyes and the problems that we can encounter. While prevention is always the best route to follow, treating eye problems early, should they occur, can prevent further harm to our vision.
One of the reasons people neglect their eyes is because if they don’t think there is a problem, they aren’t going to get checked. While older adults, especially women, are usually the group that experiences more age related vision problems, it is becoming more evident that school age children are also experiencing vision problems. Children who can’t see well probably have difficulty reading, and this can affect them in school.
Many eye problems can be traced back to family history. While not a guarantee that someone will experience an issue with their vision if a parent had an eye problem, it certainly is something to be mindful of. Certain chronic illnesses, like diabetes can also predispose people to vision problems.
It is important to protect your eyes from things that can harm them. Doctors recommend wearing sunglasses if you are going to be outdoors during daylight hours for prolonged periods of time. It is also recommended to wear safety glasses if you are going to be working in hazardous environments. Many of us spend long periods of time looking at our computer screens. To avoid problems we should follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every twenty minutes look away from the screen and focus on something twenty feet away for twenty seconds. This will help to prevent the eyes from getting tired and the muscles of the eyes from becoming weak.
Other ways to protect your vision include:
• Regular comprehensive eye exams
• Proper diet (with foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and dark leafy vegetables)
• Quit smoking or don’t start
• Maintain a proper weight
• Wash hands before placing or removing contact lenses
The National Eye Institute recommends a regular comprehensive dilated eye exam be performed on a regular basis, usually once a year. If you would like to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-5900.

Employee Spotlight – Margaret Novoa

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

This month we shine our employee spotlight on Margaret Novoa, clerical assistant to the manager of MediSys East New York.

Margaret grew up in South Ozone Park and attended school at St. Teresa of Avila. Her family moved to Brooklyn during her high school years where she attended Erasmus Hall High School and after graduating from high school she went on to study at Linden State College in Vermont.

Margaret began her career at Jamaica Hospital 35 years ago in the Emergency Department before moving on to the Department of Family Medicine and eventually to her current position in MediSys East New York.

In her free time, Margaret enjoys spending time with her son and daughter, her three grandchildren and other members of her family. Many of the people that she has worked with at the hospital over the years have become like family to her and she cherishes these friendships. Margaret enjoys reading, traveling, walking, and cooking. Margaret believes strongly in giving back to the community and she began a charity in honor of her mother, Carmen Novoa, that benefits single mothers and their children.

Margaret takes great pride in working at Jamaica Hospital for many reasons. Having grown up in this community she feels good about being able to give back to the neighborhood that gave so much to her. She feels very fortunate to work with people who look out for one another and from whom she has learned so much. Margaret looks forward to continuing to work at Jamaica Hospital and to contributing to the well-being of others. We are very happy to have her as a member of the Jamaica Hospital family.

Why Wearing Socks is Important

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

We are coming in to the warmer months of the year and many of us will be dressing more casually. Either as a fashion statement or as a way to be comfortable, some people will chose to wear shoes without wearing socks. Socks provide a bit of cushioning so that our feet don’t rub directly against the lining of the shoe, and they also help to keep them dry. When feet are exposed to prolonged moisture, there is a potential for foot fungus to develop. Foot fungus thrives in places that are warm, dark and moist, which is exactly what the environment inside of a shoe is.
One of the easiest ways to prevent foot fungus is to wear socks whenever you wear shoes. This will help to keep the feet dry. Keeping the feet clean will also help because it will remove any bacteria and dead skin that can potentially lead to an infection.
If you develop a fungal foot infection, especially a fungal infection, it will be important to see a podiatrist who can diagnose the condition properly and prescribe an appropriate medication. To make an appointment with a podiatrist at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-7001.

Springtime is Allergy Season

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

The calendar tells us that Spring is here. Soon the flowers will start to bloom, trees will start to blossom and lawns will be waking up from the long winter. We will also be spending more time outdoors. With the beginning of Spring comes allergy season and all the discomfort some of us experience. It is estimated that 30 percent of Americans suffer from allergies.
With the new technology and equipment that is available at Jamaica Hospital, testing of a small sample of blood serum IgE, can determine if a person is allergic to any of the hundreds of known allergens. This quick testing will help to determine what course of treatment to begin. Another advantage of this testing is that it can be ordered by any physician, as opposed to traditional testing ordered and performed by an allergist. A correct diagnosis leads to a more accurate treatment plan.
Historically, allergy testing was performed by specialists in the field of Allergy and Immunology. Often times this involved performing skin tests and then monitoring the results. Now this whole process can be performed by a physician through a simple blood serum test and Jamaica Hospital is now one of the few hospitals in New York City that is offering this new and exciting technology.
Often times, allergy symptoms are similar to other health conditions such as colds and sinus infections. Allergies typically do not cause fever but they can cause itchiness, eye discomfort and a runny nose. It is important to determine the causes of these symptom before treating the symptoms. People tend to purchase over the counter medications over the counter to treat their symptoms, but they may not be treating the correct cause of their discomfort.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital to discuss having allergies, please call 718-206-7001.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Andrew Rubin

Each year thousands of lives are lost due to someone who is not fully concentrating on the road while operating a motor vehicle. A few of the things that people should avoid while driving include:

Texting
Eating
Adjusting a radio or GPS
Talking on the phone
Personal grooming

Dr. Geoffrey Doughlin, Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Jamaica Hospital, explains in this video why distracted driving is so dangerous.